6 more firearms turned-over after Rido Settlement in Lanao del Sur

By Jong  Cadion

ZAMBOANGA CITY (January 30, 2018) - Following a rido settlement between two warring clans in Lanao del Sur last January 22, 2018, six (6) more firearms were turned-over by the group to the Joint Task Force Haribon in Marawi City on Monday (January 29), military official said.

Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) information officer Cpt Jo-Ann D. Petinglay disclosed that Vice Mayor Alber Balindong of Tugaya, LDS surrendered six high-powered firearms to Colonel Generoso Ponio, the Commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade at Camp Ranao, Marawi City at 10:30am , as a gesture of firm commitment to the settlement that was made earlier with their warring clan. Surrendered were four cal 7.62mm M14; and two cal 5.56mm M16 rifles. The firearms are now in the custody of the 103rd Brigade and are being properly labelled and documented.

“Last January 22, the Provincial government of Lanao Del Sur represented by its Vice Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr and the Joint Task Group Haribon of the Philippine Army headed by Colonel Generoso Ponio initiated and facilitated the talks and eventual settlement of a decades-long family feud between Vice Mayor Jafar Dipatuan of Bacolod-Kalawi and Mayor Al Fatah Pacalna Balindong of Tugaya, both of Lanao del Sur,” said Major General Roseller G Murillo, commander of the Joint Task Force Zampelan.

“During the settlement, both parties have already surrendered 24 firearms to the government forces. The additional six firearms turned-over today brings to 30 firearms surrendered,’ he added.

The ceremony and traditional proceeding between the families of the warring clans was held at the Headquarters of the JTG Haribon in Campo Ranao, Marawi City, which amicably ended at 12 noon of January 22.

“I would like to commend the combined AFP and PNP forces under MGen Murillo for these active actions to end rido in their area,” said Lieutenant General Carlito G Galvez, Jr., commander of the Western Mindanao Command.

“This is a very good gesture of honesty and commitment to the earlier settlement between the two warring parties.”

“We encourage the other feuding clans to do the same, in order for everybody to have a chance to live in harmony and prosperity,” LtGen Galvez added.

“Part of the over-all campaign of WestMinCom is to sustain all efforts to resolve all vertical and horizontal conflicts within the Joint Area of Operations, and we will continue to maintain an active stance on this particular issue until we reach a closure on all existing rido, may it be peacefully or aggressively,” added the WestMinCom chief.